Munitions Empire-Chapter 907 - 830 Glass Ashtray

Chapter 907: 830 Glass Ashtray Chapter 907: 830 Glass Ashtray “Our side is willing to share intelligence with your country, and we guarantee that all activities of our intelligence department within your country will cease…” At the negotiation table, the ambassador from Laines Empire stationed in Tang Empire pulled out yet another bargaining chip.

Diplomats from Tang Country huddled and discussed in low voices for a while before the leading diplomat resumed in an official tone, “It is good that your country is willing to cooperate with ours on intelligence matters, but Mr. Ambassador, you still have not addressed how to resolve the recent airplane training incident on Dragon Island.”

“I emphasize once again! This incident has nothing to do with our country! We are also victims! Everything James did has nothing to do with our country!” The ambassador from Laines Empire hurriedly repeated the statement he had said eight hundred times before.

Jokingly, such matters could absolutely not be admitted; they had to insist it was another country’s deliberate framing! Tell the truth? Don’t make me laugh; who could guarantee that Tang Country’s diplomats wouldn’t turn around the next second, pull out a pistol, and declare ‘war starts now!'”

Laines Empire’s stance on the matter was: I am wronged, I never did such a thing! However… how much money do you want for compensation! I’m sorry, I’ll even kneel to say! Can we just get past this issue?

The diplomat from Tang Empire sneered and questioned, “Who would believe such a tale suitable for fooling a three-year-old? We want evidence. You say you were framed, but who can prove it?”

You say we did it, do you have evidence? Although he wanted to shout this out, the ambassador from Laines weighed the toughness of his own head and thought it might not be hard enough.

“I know what you want to say, but we do have evidence,” continued the diplomat from Tang Empire with a sneer, pushing a photograph across to the other side, “At the same time as the Dragon Island incident unfolded, your country’s cruiser was spotted on the outskirts of Dragon Island! How do you explain this?”

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That cruiser was indeed discovered by Tang Country’s patrol aircraft, loitering around without leaving, obviously waiting for something. Only when things went south, and Tang Country’s destroyers arrived, did the cruiser quickly leave.

“Moreover, we intercepted some encrypted telegrams… The cruiser only left after receiving a certain telegram… Now how do you explain that?” Tang Country’s diplomat tapped his fingers lightly on the photograph, seemingly waiting for the other party to speak up.

Laines Empire’s ambassador, having been instructed, gritted his teeth and refused to admit Laines Empire’s involvement, so he could only bite the bullet and continue explaining, “Our cruiser was really broken… it broke down right there.”

“And , that encrypted telegram… was a normal communication sent by our navy… it was just, just a coincidence.” He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead and then looked up at the diplomat from Tang Country, “That’s just the truth, it was merely a coincidence.”

There’s no direct evidence proving that we are the plotters behind the scene, so stubborn denial can always be used as the final fig leaf.

“You should feel lucky! Lucky that I don’t have the authority to smash your head with an ashtray!” The Tang Country’s diplomat leaned back in his chair, looking at the huge, crystal-clear glass ashtray in the middle of the table, and spoke.

…

In Tang Mo’s office, Roger, along with Harry who had come to report back, Alice, Simon, and others, were also having a meeting.

They were discussing whether it was appropriate for Tang Country to declare war on Laines Empire. All grievances were just pretexts; ultimately, it boiled down to interests.

Whether to declare war on a country only needed attention to three issues:

The first issue: whether they could defeat that country, if not, it was best not to do so.

The second issue: whether other countries had objections to you attacking this country, if they do not, then your efforts are wasted.

The third issue: whether there were any benefits to fighting this country, this issue was very important; if there were no benefits at all, then it was not worth fighting.

Many people criticized Huaxia’s historical rulers for their weak desire for external expansion, seeing them as self-complacent and lacking ambition.

However, most of the time, Huaxia’s rulers at that time were troubled by the third question: looking around at the neighboring areas, all that remained were poor mountains and bad waters, there was truly no need to fight.

“Your Highness is correct in saying that if war were declared, Brunas would still be our most desired target, but achieving this goal is not easy,” Luff continued.

Tang Mo nodded as well; the last time his fleet had conducted a long-distance landing operation was during the assault on Dongwan Island, and that had been six or seven years ago.

At that time, leveraging the Tang Army’s weaponry, which was generations ahead of Mirage Country’s flintlock guns, the Tang Army had carelessly launched the landing and conquered Dongwan Island in one fell swoop.

But now… it clearly wouldn’t be easy to conduct such a long-distance landing operation again: however weak the Laines Empire might be, organizing a defense near Brunas posed no problem for them.

The enemy also had machine guns and heavy artillery; an extended invasion by the Tang Army aiming to capture Brunas could potentially come at a steep cost.

It needs not be said, merely leaving behind twenty thousand corpses on the sandy beaches might mean the slight benefits of recovering Brunas wouldn’t even compensate for such losses.

Another issue was that Suthers, which had occupied Northern Ridge years ago, was now separated from Brunas only by the Vicious Forest, where most of the trees had been cut down.

Once war breaks out, it is certain that Suthers would take advantage of the chaos—if they advance from the north part of the Vicious Forest straight to Brunas, what would Tang Country do?

The Laines Empire might even take a more drastic measure—abandon the Navy, and hand Brunas over to the Suthers Empire… Using the greed of the Suthers Empire to isolate the Great Tang Empire, then Tang Country might not even be able to reach the Laines Empire.

“Landing on Brunas is something we must eventually undertake, but to proceed immediately seems a bit overly hasty,” Tang Mo spoke up, setting the tone for this meeting.

His Majesty The Emperor does not wish to go to war at present, so the focus of our diplomatic efforts has settled on “striking a deal and sparing Laines.”

“Your Majesty speaks truly,” Simon added. “Going to war with Laines would greatly affect the economic sphere we are currently maintaining, which seems somewhat counterproductive.”

Previously a Financial Minister of the Laines Empire, he had now become one of Alice’s accomplished subordinates. He had always been engaged in economic work and had consistently performed well.

“Indeed, I too believe the impact on the economy would be too great,” Harry, seated nearby, chimed in.

He was originally in charge of Linshui, a city whose economic development had surged tremendously during a year of peace, one might describe it as advancing by leaps and bounds.

Linshui Port was practically the Great Tang’s version of the legendary Shanghai: skyscrapers everywhere, bustling docks, and a vibrant, awe-inspiring scene.

Should war break out, Linshui Port would inevitably suffer, and many other ports including Dongwan Port, Fengshun Port, and Weigang might all see slowed developmental progress. Compared with that, one Brunas might indeed not seem so crucial.

“We too hope to reclaim Brunas soon, after all, that place holds significant meaning for all of us,” Roger glanced at Harry, then at Alice and Tang Mo, before continuing, “It holds many precious memories for us, and it was once our homeland.”

“However, taking it back only to turn it into ruins, and losing tens of thousands of soldiers’ lives to do so, does not align with our current interests,” he paused, as if convincing himself, “So, we should wait, wait for a day when we can take back that place completely…”

“Uncle Roger is right,” Tang Mo addressed Roger not as Prime Minister but rather using the title from their days in Brunas, “One day, we will return there and once again become the rightful masters of Brunas.”

“Let’s leave everything to the diplomats, let them toy with Laines! Take as much as we can from them! For now, let’s spare our ‘old friend’ Leines I…” Tang Mo smiled, stressing the words ‘old friend’, “I’m a person who values old ties, so I’ll give him a chance!”

He further added, “Take Sofia for example, I gave her two chances, but she didn’t cherish them. I also give Leines I a chance, I hope he… will cherish our friendship.”

“He surely will,” Luff laughed. “If he doesn’t cherish it, we’ll just hang him up on a street lamp.”

“If he doesn’t want to live well, then we’ll settle the scores… with my father, and with Northern Ridge!” Alice added.

“Exactly!” Tang Mo stood up, concluding the meeting, “Privately convey this to Leines I, tell him, if there is a next time, we won’t be so agreeable!”

“Yes! Your Majesty!” Li’ao stood, bowing in assurance, “He’ll receive the warning soon.”

“May Your Majesty live forever!” As Tang Mo held Alice’s hand and left the conference room, everyone stood up, chests puffed out, and sang in chorus.